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With live performances being
one of the main sources of income for musicians
these days, it's no secret how important touring
is. However, before you let your eagerness get
the best of you, there are several "reality
check" moments you need to be aware of
before going on your first tour. As you become
more well traveled and gain experience, these
lessons will become engrained in your head.
But when first starting out, you may not know
what to expect when it comes to life on the
road and performing on stages where no one knows
your name (yet!)
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Often in the lead up to a performance,
novice singers and band members feel the strain;
running a band is a big commitment and requires
some strategic planning! All you have to do
is consider the main areas you want to cover
or things you want to achieve and send them
a timeline for the rehearsal. In a recent charity
event my band were very complimentary during
on stage interviews about the way I kept them
informed
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It would be an extreme understatement
to say that local cover bands are not paid near
as much as they should be. There are many reasons
why bands do not make the money that they should
be, such as the bands not being worth the money
or that their song selection is mediocre. But
no decent venue will hire a band that they have
not previewed (throwing the song selection concept
out the window).
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We've all heard of those infamous
band meetings where members arrive late only
to talk (and sometimes scream) about important
(and sometimes completely unimportant) matters
in a disorganized fashion. Just watch Metallica's
documentary, Some Kind of Monster, for a shocking
dose of band dysfunction.
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All independent musicians at
some point are going to go through the process
of booking their own shows. This means identifying,
contacting, and performing at venues across
your hometown and beyond. But all venues are
not created equally. Sometimes it's because
the management is shady; other times it's because
the sound system will give you tinnitus. Either
way, you shouldn't play a show just for the
sake of playing a show, and you shouldn't book
a venue just because they'll have you.
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Whenever you book a gig at
a fresh venue, you’re on a learning curve.
Circumstances are different in every room and
if you don’t know the deal, the night
can go off the rails before you hit the first
downbeat. As any well-gigged player will tell
you, gathering a little information ahead of
time can prevent some big headaches.
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A band is simultaneously a
friendship, a collaborative partnership and
a business. Although it might be less personal
and intimate than a romantic relationship, it
is quite possibly more complicated. That's because
there are usually more than two people involved,
and everyone has an opinion. We are artists
after all, so being sensitive and having opinions
come with the territory of creating things.
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Performing
live music is a nerve-racking experience. No
amount of singing in the mirror or head-banging
in the garage can quite prepare you for the
moment when the lights come up and you're there.
The center of attention. The subject of scrutiny.
"Here we are now, entertain us." Your
body language can convey a confidence in your
music that's contagious to your audience, but
can also betray self-doubt that will be perceived
just as acutely. It's your goal to put a room
at ease, whether that's them leaping into a
mosh pit with selfless abandon or applauding
politely at a seated jazz club. Here are six
notorious "tells" that can subtly
indicate that you’re actually feeling
more of a Woody Allen than a Buddy Holly underneath
those bright lights.
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Some people are born with an
innate sense of confidence that they carry with
them through life. For others, confidence is
trait that has to be won in battle. Among all
of the talent that exists in the world and the
unfortunate realities of the music industry,
it's easy for somebody who doesn't have innate
confidence to feel intimidated. Below are six
tips on what to do when your confidence starts
to falter, and what you can do to improve the
confidence you already have.
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Too many people fail to see
the bigger picture of life as a musician and
the miserable state of the industry. If you
are one of these people and catch yourself feeling
in some way cheerful, stop right away and follow
this simple 12 step plan to guarantee your return
to a completely horrid existence on this miserable
rock. Warning: Contains strong language. If
you don’t like that, then you should probably
still read on anyway as it will just give you
more reasons to be pissed off.
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